I have a biter :(

[Longdistance]

My dd2 is 18mo, and gets really frustrated with her big sister who is 3.3. She snatches a toy off of dd1, and then dd1 bites her.

She also bites herself on the arm too. It's all new to me, as dd1 didn't do this, or I think she tried, I told her off, and she didn't do it again. Whereas, I will tell dd2 off, and she'll do it again later, even though I've told her off, and she's cried acknowledging that shes been told off.

Any other ideas? They'd be very much appreciated!

I had a biter too - my DD used to get very frustrated with her big brother and has bitten him on a number of occasions. I can't offer any better advice than to discipline her when your DD2 does it (using whatever methods of discipline you are happy with) and hopefully she will get the message.

For your encouragement it was a few months ago (she was around the same age as your DD2) that my DD went through a phase of frequent biting of anyone that was within reach (including herself) when she got cross about something, but she has improved a lot and it is very very infrequent now. In fact, I can't remember the last time she bit someone, so keep consistent with how you deal with it and it will improve.

Perhaps you could also encourage your DD1 to not snatch toys etc, but perhaps to bring a different toy to 'swap' with her sister if she has something she wants.

Dd1 is very stubborn. We tell her not to snatch, and as a result she gets time out, and causes a real drama. It only happens when I'm not watching, that a toy is snatched, then dd2 bites dd1, and it's a vicious circle, as then I am telling the vampire off, and then comforting dd1 for being bitten. She gets told not to snatch, but even when we try swapping it for another toy, it's not good enough stubborn child

Was bathing dd1 earlier, and she now has a bruised bite mark on her back, that's how bad it is.

How firm are you when you tell dd2 off? I would be very stern, not shouting. But take her away from the situation and then say firmly with eye contact. You do NOT bite. And then leave her where she is to comfort dd1. If dd2 keeps getting taken away from the fun when she bites hopefully it will sink in.

I think I may remove her next time, but I have been very firm with her, and I thought she was getting the message, as she cries when I tell her off. This happens when she is doing something she isn't supposed to be doing, and she gets the message then.

I kid you not, she is the angel child of my two. Always happy, still has two naps a day, sleeps through, eats everything we give her. I do think she's venting her frustration out on dd1, as she's never angry, and think that's how she's venting.

I'm off to a BBQ tom, where they'll be loads of kids. Gonna have to watch her like a hawk.

Good luck! It will just be a phase but its not much comfort when you are in the middle of it. Hope you manage to get it sorted. Hang in there she will get the message eventually.
There is a big difference between being the parent of a child who bites who is trying to do something about it and one who doesn't care!